A Systematic Review of Financial Inclusion Research Trends and Digital Transformation (2020-2025)

Abstract

This study provides a systematic review of 117 publications from 2020 to 2025 to examine trends, thematic developments, and research directions in financial inclusion. The findings indicate a substantial increase in scholarly attention during this period, driven by rapid growth in digital finance, FinTech adoption, and global efforts to improve equitable access to financial services. Financial inclusion research demonstrates a multidisciplinary character, with major contributions from economics and finance, alongside growing involvement from business, social sciences, and digital technology fields. Key themes such as financial literacy, digital finance, digital financial inclusion, and poverty alleviation underscore the evolving intersection between technological transformation and socioeconomic development. While the review highlights active contributions from countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, it also reveals limited collaboration networks among authors, pointing to opportunities for stronger interdisciplinary and cross-country partnerships. The study offers an overview of existing research patterns but is limited by reliance on a single bibliographic dataset and a six-year timeframe; future research should incorporate broader sources, extended periods, and qualitative or comparative approaches to deepen contextual and regulatory insights.